A JAZZ quartet with a unique sound are to hit the upper dale as part of a whistle-stop tour of the North Pennines.
Amanda Brown and The Common Ears, based in Liverpool, will play the Teesdale Hotel, Middleton-in-Teesdale, on Sunday afternoon, March 25.
Formed in 2015, the jazz and blues outfit mix their 20s and 30s sound with punk, bluegrass, rock and bebop.
Entry is free and the performance starts at 3.30pm, with a hat passed around at the performance.
Gig organiser Hollie-Ann Coleman, from Weardale, brought the band up to the Black Bull, in Frosterley, last year which sparked this latest mini-tour.
She said: “They have an authentic sound from the 20s and 30s with their own songs and others some people should recognise.
“Amanda comes from a background of 20s and 30s singing and she’s been in punk and rock and roll bands.
“They were asked back after they played the Black Bull six or eight months ago so I’ve organised some other gigs.”
The band features Amanda Brown on lead vocals and guitar, Parabhen Lad on double bass, Nick Branton on saxophone and Lucy Mercer, borrowed from pop outfit Stealing Sheep, on drums.
Promoter Michael Carr has brought a number of groups to Teesdale from his native north west.
He hoped the band would offer “something a bit musically unusual” to dale folk.
The highlight of the band’s career to date has been winning a slot on the much coveted BBC Introducing Stage at the 2017 Latitude Festival.
This saw them increase their listenership on the radio.
Normally a trio, the band released their first EP, Medicinal Biscuit in 2017 – which is available online.
Amanda Brown and The Common Ears will play at The Black Bull, Frosterley on Friday, March 23, and The Golden Lion, Allendale on Saturday, March 24, before heading over to Teesdale.
